Book excerpt: Zany women and their pets have fun getting older. "When I get old, I hope to have friends as awesome as these. This is an absolutely feel good novel. Naturally, our intrepid characters, wattles and all, undergo all sorts of trials, but it's the compassion and generosity they exhibit that endears the reader." -- Sam Sanders, via NetGalley Zany families, eccentric friends, and ne-er-do-well neighbors inhabit the labyrinthine lives of three women friends as they grapple with real world events in one "Golden Year." An unwelcome visit from local law enforcement, a younger friend's romantic chaos, and the death of a parent combine with daily mundanities---laundry, scones, and senior sex---to create a walloping, raucous read. Opinionated pets---critics and alter egos---offer a rich counterpoint to the human dramas affecting their lives. Unfiltered and compelling, this entertaining sago provides readers of all ages with a new and positive view of growing older.